Updated: 06/05/02
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Minutes of the System and Resource Library Administrators Association of Wisconsin: Tuesday, May 21, 2002.
Members Present: Barbara Dimick (Madison PL), Karen Krueger (Hedburg PL), Mark Merrifield (NFLS), Alan Engelbert (MCLS/Manitowoc PL), Michael Tyree (West Bend PL), Pam Keisner (Brown County PL), Joan Airoldi (NMLS), Janet Jenning (Superior PL), Maureen Weld (IFLS), Pete Hamon (SCLS), Terry Dawson (Appleton PL), Rick Krumwiede (OWLS), Heather Eldred (WVLS), Mark Morse (L.E. Phillips PL), Tom Strange (LaCrosse PL), John Nichols (Oshkosh PL/WLS), Ken Hall (WLS), Jessica MacPhail (Racine PL), Bernie Bellin (LLS), Douglas Baker (Kenosha Public Library/KCLS), Doris Nix (MCFLS), David Polodna (WRLS), David Weinhold (ESLS), Thomas Hennen (WCFLS), Ruth Ann Montgomery (ALS), Sharon Winkle (Mead PL).
Guests Present: Peg Branson (DLTCL), Alan Zimmerman (DLTCL), Mike Cross (DLTCL), Lisa Strand (WLA), Sally Drew (DLTCL), Bob Bocher (DLTCL), Cal Potter (DLTCL), Paul Nelson (WLA).
The meeting was held in the WLA Offices, 5250 E. Terrace Drive, Madison, WI. Chair Barb Dimick called the meeting to order at 10:11 AM and declared a quorum present.
Following introductions Dimick called for additions to the agenda. Weinhold requested the addition of an item regarding research designed to define the typical Wisconsin library user. This was added to the agenda following item #9.
Strange moved and Merrifield seconded approval of the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion passed.
Polodna distributed the Treasurer's Report dated May 21, 2002, noting that a $1,000 payment to ALA is pending.
Library District
Enabling Legislation
Winkle introduced discussion of the Library District Enabling Legislation
Preliminary Draft distributed earlier by e-mail and noting comments for
further review and revision of the draft.
Baker moved and Merrifield seconded that SRLAAW support library district legislation in concept and support the process as development of the legislation continues. Motion carried.
The next step, following availability of a clean draft, is to get input from the wider library community, including the Task Force on Library Funding & Legislation and WLA.
Vision Follow
Up
Morse distributed the May 21, 2002, report of the SRLAAW Vision Committee
noting that all the recommendations except the Research & Development
items are being taken up by the Task Force on Public Library Legislation
and Funding. The R&D initiatives were discussed, especially as they
relate to the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC). Drew noted the
importance of communication between WPLC and DLTCL, for example sending
agendas and minutes for WPLC to DLTCL.
Polodna moved and Eldred seconded that SRLAAW endorse the Vision Committee's recommendation to move along the R&D effort per the Committee report. Motion carried.
Shared Electronic
Resources Committee Report
In Schneider's absence, Dimick acknowledged receipt of written report.
ALA Legislative
Day
Strange reported that the main topics discussed with legislators and their
staff were LSTA reauthorization along with copyright and fair use. Branson
commented on the bi-partisan support for reauthorization. Petri and Feingold
met with the Wisconsin delegation in person.
Strange noted the eligibility of schools to participate in LSTA grant projects. Branson reported schools were eligible effective 1997 and that Wisconsin has addressed this through funding statewide projects rather than opening the competitive grants process to entities other than public libraries.
Delivery Advisory
Committee
Weinhold reported the Committee met last week and determined to advance
a budget proposal to DLTCL such that the funding for participation in
the delivery system "backbone" come from a source other than
system budgets. DLTCL is to strategize the best way to present and accomplish
this funding goal of a separate appropriation for delivery service.
Drew stated this was a major issue in the last budget proposal. There is a 10% increase projected for the cost of delivery service for the next biennium. The aim is to fund the service with no federal dollars applied to inter-system delivery. Drew is to survey library systems via the Advisory Committee.
Baker moved and Nichols seconded that SRLAAW endorse the committee recommendation for inter-system delivery funding for public library systems above and beyond the statutory 13% funding level. Motion carried.
LSTA
Branson distributed the "LSTA Evaluation 1997 - 2002 Highlights"
and reported that the full report submitted to IMLS is available on the
web.
She shared information about LSTA reauthorization earlier in the meeting.
Research About
Wisconsin Library Users
Weinhold introduced Josh Morrell who conducted research on the netlibrary
project for WPLC. Both he and Morrell want to ascertain interest in additional
research designed to define the typical Wisconsin library user. Morrell
is interested in the question of the availability of library user data
bases for survey purposes.
Discussion ensued, including the following suggestions: Morse and Drew suggested use of the Gallup survey of Wisconsin library use done about 20 years ago as comparison data, Hennen noted the resent survey results released by ALA, Dimick suggested local surveys might be a good source of survey questions, Eldred asked if funding for a survey would fit the LSTA targeted services category.
Task Force on
Public Library Funding and Legislation
Potter reported that agendas and notes for the Task Force are available
at the website maintained by DLTCL. Review of the report of the May 16
meeting ensued. Discussion primarily focused on the Task Force recommendation
calling for consolidation of smaller library service systems by 2007.
On the topic of recommendations regarding standards for system membership,
Nichols suggested including the rationale for the recommendations in the
final report. Eldred inquired about the ability of non-system members
to participated in shared automated library services.
Potter noted that two Task Force meetings remain and there is ample opportunity to share comments via the website.
WLA Regional Legislative
Network
Nelson reviewed his WAPL presentation on encouraging library directors
and staff to make politics local. Based on his experience as a legislative
advocate, we have focused so much attention on the state level that we
have neglected to get our local communities to respond to library issues.
His handout "Making the Local Connection" should be in the job
description of every library director.
The discussion emphasized a focus on concrete issues, e.g. free library service, Badgerlink, and don't complicate the simple. We may not need to explain what library systems are - our message perhaps could be "funding for libraries was cut 5%." Paul stated that his WAPL presentation is available as a workshop to any library or library system.
Technology and
Resource Sharing Report
Bocher reported on the information presented at the LITAC meeting:
REACH - The REACH grants are going to 65 libraries for direct Internet access. Only one library in the state will be without Internet Service - they also don't have a phone.
WENCC - The contracts for BadgerNet (the state telecommunications network) expire in 2005. A library focus group provided information on what is needed for the state network in a new bid proposal.
GATES - Bocher reviewed the handouts and information he has posted to the message lists on the GATES grants. Libraries who are in communities which have a poverty level at 10% or higher are eligible for free GATES computers.
BADGERLINK - Drew reported that she has gathered information on the various databases that are being proposed for addition to Badgerlink. In addition to Grolier and SIRS, there is also interest in WORLDCAT, auto repair information and business information.
WISCAT - There will be a fee of $150 per library for using the resource sharing and the cataloging functions of WISCAT.
Krumwiede moved and Bellin seconded that SRLAAW endorse the $150 WISCAT fee. Motion carried.
Next Meeting
SRLAAW will meet on August 23 in Wausau. Heather invited SRLAAW to attend
a soiree on the evening prior (August 22) at her house on the river.
Meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m.
Recorded by Sharon Winkle and David Weinhold.
